Nitrogen
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The main gases present in Earth's atmosphere today are nitrogen (about 78%), oxygen (about 21%), argon (about 0.93%), and carbon dioxide (about 0.04%). Other gases such as water vapor, methane, and trace amounts of other gases are also present.
The main gases in Earth's atmosphere today are nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%). Other important gases include argon, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of water vapor, methane, and ozone.
The most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere today are nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%). These two gases make up the majority of our atmosphere, with other gases like argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor present in smaller amounts.
Argon is a noble gas and does not react with other elements in the atmosphere, so it has remained relatively constant over time. The initial percentage of argon in the Earth's atmosphere was likely determined by the gases present during the planet's formation. The lack of significant processes that remove or add argon to the atmosphere has helped to maintain its percentage over time.
These gases were likely present in Earth's early atmosphere due to volcanic activity releasing them, as well as impacts from asteroids and comets during the planet's formation. Chemical reactions between these gases played a vital role in the formation of the Earth's atmosphere as we know it today.
The Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%). Other gases, such as argon, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases, make up the remaining composition.